Saturday, December 24, 2011

Thank you all for your support of my work over the past year. I hope you enjoy the following short story - it'll be up permanently on the short stories page of the website with the next set of updates.

I'm taking a short blogging vacation over the holidays - I'll be back January 2nd, 2012, so see you then!

~

A glimpse into Judd and Brenna’s life when they have a night to themselves, no Pack business to handle and no enemies at the door. This story slots in a few months after Caressed By Ice ( not long before Branded By Fire).

Movie Night

Nalini Singh

“Do you want to go out for dinner?”

Brenna hid a smile at the question she knew Judd had asked only because he was trying to be a good mate. He hated eating in restaurants. Regardless of the fact that he was a master of subtle disguise, he spent the whole time tensed up, on alert for threats.

“No,” she said, “let’s stay in and watch a movie. I have a couple of frozen pizzas I can throw in the oven, and the salad won’t take long.”

His smile was slow, quiet, wonderful. “Which movie do you want to watch?”

It made her heart ache that he hid nothing from her, though he was a man who’d been taught never to trust anyone. “You pick.”

“You like the dramatic romances that make you cry.” The last words were slightly puzzled.

Pulling out the pizzas and setting them on the counter, she shook her head. “No, I want you to choose something you like.” A small, many would say inconsequential thing, but those people didn’t understand that her mate had lived his life in the shadows, been forced to submerge his personality under a layer of ice—that ice had melted for her, but that didn’t mean it hadn’t left scars. Fun was still a new concept for Judd.

Now, not saying a word, he went to the comm panel and pulled up a list of recent releases. He was so serious, she wanted to reach out and kiss him stupid. Which would get her naked very quickly. Because in one arena, Judd definitely had the idea of fun down to an art—though he still refused to divulge his research sources.

“Here.” He input a choice on the large comm screen he’d moved so it hung on the wall in front of the couch.

Walking over, she put her hands on her hips. “Really? You want to watch a tearjerker romance set in the time of the Territorial Wars?”

“Yes.”

“Liar.” He’d just chosen something he thought she would enjoy. “It has to be your choice.”

“How do you know I don’t like the same movies as you?”

He was digging his heels in. She knew him in this mood. If she pushed him wrong, he would flat-out refuse to change his mind—that was the thing with Judd. He was sexy, strong, loved her until she felt the power of it in every cell of her body, but the man had a core of intractable stubborn. “Sweetheart, come here.” Cupping his face in her hands, she met the bitter chocolate of his gaze, the flecks of gold pieces of sunlight. “I want you to enjoy this.”

A softening in his expression, his hand coming to settle on her waist. “I enjoy being with you.”

“I know.” Woman and wolf, both parts of her adored being cuddled up next to him, too. “I guess I want to see what you like as well.” Discover another hidden facet of the beautiful, complex man who was hers.
Judd paused. “I don’t know what I like.”

“That’s okay.” Sliding her hands down to his chest, she stole a small kiss before she went to the screen and pulled up a sub-menu. “These are considered boy movies. As you are a boy, choose one you think looks interesting.”

A glint in his eye, he went to the screen, went carefully through the choices. “This one.”

The promotional image was of a guy in a rainforest, with a machete, and a snake coiled around his arm like some kind of macho armband.

Brenna laughed. “Right, that’s the one.”

The movie was terrible. Awful. Everything that could go wrong did in terms of the direction, the production, the setting, the acting—though the leads weren’t helped by atrocious lines such as, “I’ve got to suck out the venom from the bite on your breast, doll. It’s your only chance of survival, so just lie back and let the expert get to work.”

Even the snakes couldn’t save it. According to Judd, and she didn’t know how he knew this, the reptiles being used as the super scary monsters weren’t the least bit poisonous. She had a stitch in her side by the time the movie was over. “At least he had beautiful abs,” she said, wiping away her tears as the credits rolled.

A slight raising of eyebrows from the man who sprawled on the sofa next to her—a sofa that had somehow survived his Tk. She knew that look, too. It said: Why are you admiring another man’s body?

“Oh come on,” she teased. “Don’t tell me you didn’t notice the rack on his co-star?” A co-star whose primary job had been to fall out of her indecent bikini—why she was wearing a bikini in the Amazon was another thing—and scream like a banshee. “Especially when he had to ‘save’ her by heroically sucking on her boobs.”

“I noticed her rack never moved,” Judd said in a cool tone. “There’s no excuse for that with the low-cost cosmetic procedures currently available.”

She choked on the wine she’d just sipped. Her mate, eyes laughing, though his lips were only faintly curved, patted her gently on the back until she could breathe again. Pointing at him, she said, “That was a funny, Judd Lauren.” And some people thought he had no sense of humor. Hah!

Reaching for the remote, he tugged her to his side so she could snuggle close, and began to go through the menu again. “This one.”

“Oh God,” Brenna muttered in mock-horror when she saw the same guy they’d just watched fend off “deadly” mutant snakes, this time baring his teeth against—improbably—a saber-tooth tiger, “I’ve created a monster.”

Judd kissed her hot and hard. “You know you want to.”

She shamelessly arched her neck for another kiss. “Yes, I do.” Snagging the remote, she started the movie and settled in, one hand spread over his heart. There was no place she’d rather be, and no one else she’d rather be with.

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Friday, December 16, 2011

I have very recently discovered the Liaden books by Sharon Lee & Steve Miller. All I can say is - where have you been all my life?! This week, I devoured The Dragon Variation, which is an omnibus that includes three novels - Local Custom, Scout's Progress, and Conflict of Honors. The omnibus acted as a great introduction into the series for me.

The bookseller who recommended the Liaden books to me* described them as regencies in space, and I think that's a wonderful way to put it. The Liaden culture's formal rules of behavior are very regency-like. Plus, these three books all had strong romances. Of course, there are also spaceships, a battle or two, and adventure!

I know I'm very late to the party, but the good news is, I have lots of books to inhale! If you haven't tried this series, check it out.

Okay, your turn! What are you reading and loving at the moment?

*The fabulous Barbara ofBarbara's Booksfor you Kiwis looking for a specialist romance/sf/fantasy bookstore (they post books out across the country).

The meet will be in Auckland - if you don't live in the area, but will be up here sometime next year, I'm happy to organize a time that works with you if you win. Follow the link to get the full details. This particular auction will end December 9th, but there will be items added throughout the month, so check them out.

This year's charities are Ronald McDonald House, Wellington, and Kids Restore New Zealand. You can read more about them here.

Friday, December 02, 2011

Some great news! Lord of the Abyss hit both the New York Times and the USA Today Bestseller lists. Thank you everyone!

Also, it looks like Micah and Liliana's story is currently discounted to $2.99 (ebook), so if you haven't picked up a copy, here's your chance: Kindle, B&N

As Eva mentioned in the comments to an earlier post, you can grab a gorgeous wallpaper featuring the cover art from "Engelsblut" (Archangel's Consort) from my German publisher, Lyx. I've got a small image of it on the right.

And, if you're on Facebook, Lyx is giving away some signed copies Engelsblut. Check out their Facebook page for details.

Onto the book club! What are you reading and loving at the moment? I'm deep in deadline mode, and hanging with the SnowDancer gang...oh, and a couple of Arrows you might know. ;-)

A NEW DAWN BEGINS FOR THE PSY-CHANGELING WORLD…

BECAUSE HAPPILY EVER AFTER DESERVES A SECOND CHANCE

My Website

Newsletter

Name

Email

Country

Join my monthly newsletter to receive exclusive updates and free short stories that won't be posted online for at least six months! Only my assistant Ashwini and I have access to your email and we promise not to spam you. :-) If you sign up but don't receive a confirmation, email Ashwini.